Much has been made about how the Sacramento Kings are not likely to re-sign veteran free agent Russell Westbrook. In truth, there's nothing personal about it. The Kings simply don't have the money to keep Brodie on the roster, even if they want to or almost need to at this point.
There are a number of ways that Westbrook doesn't fit the Kings' rebuild. Sacramento is looking to get younger, faster, and more focused on defense. With 18 seasons behind him and a reputation as an elite offensive contributor, he might not exactly fit what the Kings want going forward, which is fair.
At the same time, it's hard to ignore what a player like Westbrook brings to the table. He's easily one of the greatest point guards in the history of basketball and could provide invaluable guidance to young players on and off the court. Plus, he can still get the job done in 48 minutes.
More and more, it appears the Kings will not be retaining Brodie's services. The real reason is that they are out of cap space and on the verge of some serious penalties. Unless they move a major contract like Zach LaVine or Domantas Sabonis, there are no additional signings happening.
This is the business side of Kings basketball
Sure, basketball is a sport, but it's also a business and hard choices need to be made. This had to be an incredibly difficult one for the Kings' front office. Letting a player the caliber of Westbrook walk in free agency hurts. It's bad for player development and probably even worse for team morale.
Depending on how the season plays out, there may be an opportunity to bring Westbrook back in. As 2026-2027 progresses, LaVine will become more tradeable with decreases in both the time and value of his contract. That could open up space to re-sign Brodie, assuming he's still available.
There's also the option of signing him up as an assistant coach. Given the depth and breadth of Westbrook's experience and knowledge, he could be a huge asset to the Kings as a bench boss. It's something the front office should look at as he would be a massive addition to the coaching staff.
Honestly, it's hard to believe that the Kings don't want to keep Westbrook. That doesn't change the fact that other signings, such as Precious Achiuwa and Daeqwon Plowden, needed to be prioritized. It was a question of wants versus needs, and Westbrook fit in the wrong category. For now.
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